Filter



Nov. 26, 1935. H. s. WHITMORE 2,022,069

FILTER Filed Nov. l, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 26, 1935. H. B. WHITMoRE FILTER Filed Nov. 1, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NVE/VTOR FILTER Filed Nov. l, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 6C Z 5; 25T/,752

i l i JM a s i i T11-LLL I INVENTOR `rdcasW Zmre Patented Nov. 26, 1935 U N I T ED SjT-T E Sf P'AT ENT O I C Ei AppiicationNovember 1, 1932, serial. No. 640,574. In Germany-November 17', 1931 7 Claims.

This invention relatestodmprovements in filtersrand more/particularly tothe methodV of, op-` eration and'apparatus-for continuous filtration.

It isone ofthe features of my. invention to -pro Vide aiilter which may preferably be of the continuousvtypein-.Which the filter surface is-carried. on a rotatable member andzwhi-ch surface is irregular in shapeforming transverse or longitudinal or diagonal channels or gr0oves-inorder toy increase the area of filtration.

Another object of. my inventionr to provide acontinuous suction-lter With a` plurality of; separate filter units ntegrallymounted together toformafilter group=which maybe carried on asuitable spider or skeleton drum spaced from ythe filter shaft, each-ofthe filtergroups being. ofirregular' shape havingv depressed' channels or grooves between the elements, the Aproj ecting units. being separately covered whereby the iiltersurya faceandV lter efficiency. is greatlyincreased Withoutv material increase ofthe overall size of; the filter.

Another objectk of.v my inventionis to'provide` a countercurrent- Washing and dischargef apparatus particularlyV for dischargingv or Washing the solids-in a direction` countercurrent tothedirection of rotation and prior to completedry ing of the cake on the filterwelement to-iremove furthercake valuesfor' to secondarily filter the washed cakeidependingon the-effect desiredf andi the arrangementfof the-filtervalve'ports.

Ariotiierv object ofV my `invention is to'provide' av countercurrent'V Washing apparatusfin' connection".-

with aY suction filter having;V an.r irregular filter surface in whichy a: substantial amount of; the cleaningl of the :filter rsurface l can' be f carried out priortoJtlie'nal dischargefandso'that the coun tercurrentwashing ywillsubstantially fillftheI chan-w nels between thefilter:- units and W-iil be disfch'arged? over al flexible` deflector on: the= opposite. side" off. the drumn into av suitable discharge con-m duit. y

A further'object of the inVention-istoproyide a7 circuit'- of' flow for repulpingg the discharged;- filter cakeandy resluicing the repulpedfrlter cake for.furtherf'countercurrent or' concurrent cleaning-z to increase thef thickness` and. impermeabilityof'.

theiiiltercake.. Y Another'featureof theVv invention is* that the.-

l iiltierui'iitsf are integrally formed'intoilongitudi' nal lter groups; each: unit' being of` segmental shape in end elevation: andiformingt a complete cylinderfwith. the remaining units,- whereby-more rapid replacement' and: repair can be hadandY so thatk but' one drainage.x conduitv isfY required for the entire.group,.the separate. lter. unitsibeing relatively close together and,.,i.n.a.complete row,

forming a crenelatedeffect..

Further objects and advantages.. of myV inven.-

tion. Will. appear from. the.. followingv disclosure. 5,.

thereof taken.. in. connectionwith. the. attached.

drawings. which.. illustrate preferred. forms. of..v

embodiment ofmy invention. and'dn which;.

Figure. 1 isend elevation.1 partially insee-- tion ofacontinuous lter;. 10

Figure Llis an end-view` ofthe ltergroup shown ,.15-y

in Figure-3f;

Figurefr 5. is a partial.- plan, View, of the; flexible scraper ondeflecton shown .inligure 1;,

Figures .6. andi 7 are end, viewsand. side.. elevaf tional-views respectively.v ofi amodified. form. of.,20.

filter. group; y

Figures Sand 9Y are end. VieWsand. side, elev-ational viewsfrespectivelyofla still.furtherfmodiiied form of filter g-roup;

Figure 10 is a partial side elevation; of. a stil1`25.

further modified formofl filter group;

FiguresV 1l and'12 are; endv-iewsand side elevational views respectivelyy offstillfurther modified forms of-lter groups.

The continuous lter shown. as one-embodi-0 ment of my invention is built around a centrali lter. shaft Ill preferably having; a. drum shape framework I2 which supports-the ltergroups. i4.' There are a plurality off groups for sec-I tional' filtration. Theshafty may be supported-35 in any desired form ofbearings I3-` and be driven` by the gear l5 from anyA desired source of powerand at any-desired speediorinany direction.

The filter groups I 4 include a plurality ofiilterv units lWhich are segmental in endviewfand-4 a 40 plurality 'of groups Mraregmounted'thus forming the total filter area. The frame I2 increasesthe effective diameter of thefilter'and permits the use offa greaternumber of lter groups and therefore not onlyincreases thefareaof filtration but alsothe path of travel for ecient filtration.

The filter group i4 as more clearly disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, isprovided With asuitable mesh screerrwhich may bean applied Wire backing or 50.

anintegralcastingof Web shape Whichinturn. supports the. lter. fabric I8.A This` fabric I8. which may be. of Wovencloth or Wire acts as. the filter for the soliolsand permits theltrate. to travel into the interior drainage area. 20 andl` thence through the radial conduit 2| to the appropriate conduit 22 in the filter shaft I2.

Each filter group preferably has a plurality of integral upstanding filter units formed by the separate covered segments, I8 and extends entirely across the filter. As each unit is adapted to withdraw filtrate into the common drainage area 2E which also extends transverse to the filter it is only necessary to use one drainage conduit 2| and all of the units of a group will simultaneously filter. Suitable bolts 23, secure the filter group to the drum frame I2 so that the entire group may be removed if desired.

The filter units I8 form channels 24 for contact with the filter pulp and they will also act as drainage channels as the wash water or discharging fluids will tend to fill the space between the units. Complete drainage can therefore be had and a much greater area. is thus exposed to the. filter pulp or wash Water than is possible with the commonly known drum filters.

The drainage areas 20 of filter groups I4. are.' each connected through a suitable valve 26, and

cooperating-common port 28 into which the filter shaft conduits 22 open with a suitable suction conduit 3B. municates with a number of filter groups so that substantially all of the filter groups are under I filtering suction through a substantial period of movement. The blowback port 32 may be connected through the pressure pipe 33 to a suitable source of pressure for additionally assisting in the discharge of the filter cake. The Valve 2B is also provided with two blank spots 34 at which time no pressure differential operates on the lter units.

If desired, the valve 26 maybe held to the shaft I@ by a suitable spring II which will permit lsufficient iiuctuation to prevent damage by pressure extremes as well as to permit free rotation of the shaft I0 with respect to the fixed valve.V

If the filter cake is desirably washed, suitable sprays 4Q can be used which may be directed radially toward the center of the filter shaft and as shown in Figure l, pass into each channel 24 vtexture of the filter cake and to assist in drying them. This may beA particularly desired in thickeners for example.

In a particular form, however, I arrange a spray 4I in a direction to traverse the lter units before they pass beneath the sprayl so that the spray of material will normally pass opposite the direction of movement of the filter units. This countercurrent washing of the filter units has an important advantage in that the liquid will wash the collected solids free of the original solution entrained during the filtration period. Furthermore, a certain percentage of the discharged solids will be redeposited on the filter surfaces before they can be discharged over the deiiector 44 which is serrated or crenelated in shape to follow the crenelation of the filter elements I4. Therefore, the solids are rewashed and if a further liquid is necessary it may be added through the ports 40.

The two principal deficiencies which exist in surface and therefore too limited capacity for units of given dimensions. The former of these The valve simultaneously comterials.

objections is overcome by the countercurrent washing and the latter by the means of the lter group I4 as described.

The defiector 44 is preferably pivoted at 44a adjacent the point of emergence of the filter 5 elements from the tank 23. The projections 44h of the deector 44 are preferably of rubber or otherwise flexible especially on the edges so that the filter cake may pass upwardly past the defiector, but on contact of the wash water from l0 port 4I, the cake will be deflected away from the filters and into the discharge channel 48. It is also possible to increase the clearance between the projections 44h on the deflector 44 but this is unsatisfactory because it will permit the thin l5 cake to return into the filter pulp tank 23 and will still interfere with the passage of the thicker cake. With the flexible element the wash water and evenV the thin cake is deflected and there is no interference'with the thicker cake. 20 It is obvious that in this filter element that there is no limit to the closeness of the filter surfaces other than the thickness of the layer of the deposited solids. This'close spacing of the filter surfaces also assists materiallywhere it is 25V desired to wash the cake since a limited amount of liquid is required in counter-flow to completely fill. the spaces between the surfaces, thereby submerging these surfaces and insuring better washing. f 30 It is possible to move the countercurrerit wash jet 4| to a position substantially directly over the deflector 44 and the suction port 28 and back pressure port 32 in the valve may be varied accordingly. It is also possible to increase the 3 depth of the filter pulp pan 23 carrying such pan above the center of rotation and it is also of course possible to change the direction of rotation if desired. Such constructions will depend on actual working conditions and if washing of 40 the cake is unnecessary and counterflow inadvisable but longer filtration of paramount importance, this may readily be accomplished.

The spray 4l] may be used to pre-coat the filter surface with diatomaceous earths or similar ma- 45 With the present construction of irregular filter surfaces the spray coating is particularly satisfactory.

It is also to be understood that while the countercurrent washing through the spray 4I is par- 50 previously used for sluicing and repulped in the 55 v tank 41 from which it is drawn by the pump 49 and returned to the spray pipe 4 I. In this mannerl filter cake is discharged as an overflow product and the repulped liquid will not dilute the cake to the extent that fresh water might. This 60 also is a matter of operating advantage and may be readily carried out on my filter.

As shown in Figure 3, the filter fabric I8 is cut in such a pattern that it will separately cover each of the projecting filter units IE in the filter 65 group I4. This is probably a preferred construction in that the exposed surface is irregular and yet held in a fixed position by the integral 'relation to the group to form transverse channels 24. slight modifications of this construction in which the filter segment 50 of the group 52 may be of solid metal, wood, or other material and will have a sawtooth profile in front elevation and segmental in shape in end view. This profile is y In Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, I have shown. 70

covered with a suitable 'filter material 54 which may be stitched or otherwise secured along the sides as desired. Suitable holes in the sides of the filter segment 50 may be of long slot 'shape as shown at 56' in Figure 6, or of short slot shape such as shown at 66 in Figure 8. In Figure '7, the construction is preferably a single casting or a single unit wood frame whereas in Figure 9 separate segments 60 are built up and spacers 6l placed between the different segments as desired, the entire assembly being held by bolts 6l.

The drainage of the group B2 shown in Figure 9, is into a separate transverse conduit 63which is provided with suitable apertures 65 for drainage purposes. A suitable fabric 64 is used to cover each of the filter segments.

In Figure 10 the filter units 10 are preferably held together by suitable rods 12 on the through conduit i3 which drains the separate units. These units have parallel sides, and are preferably segmental in shape in end View as shown in Figure 8 or Figure 11.

A further construction is shown in Figures 11 and l2 in which the flutes or channels run longitudinally of the drum. The segments may thus be of sawtooth shape at right angles however to the construction shown in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive. The V slot 8| will be formed between the sides of the segment and each adjacent pair of segments 8f3 will form a seco-nd V shaped slot Bla. The slanting sides of the segment have drainage slots 82 which are covered with filter fabric 84 and will drain the fabric and permit the filtrate to pass out through the radial conduit 22.

The .surface of the filter therefore may be corrugated, fluted, ribbed, crenellated, or otherwise formed so that the effective filter area is substantially greater than it would be if the filtering surface occurred only on the peripheral surface of a cylinder of the same outerI diameter and length. These channels may thus run in all directions across the drum as desired.

The filter is easily made, and assembled and has many economical operating advantages. The filter groups may be readily removed and replaced as desired and the surface is substantially larger than the usual drum filter.

While I have shown preferred forms of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that other changes may be made thereto and I therefore desire a broad interpretation of my invention within the scope and spirit of the disclosure herein of the claims appended hereinafter.

I claim:

l. The method of discharging filtercake from the filter elements of a continuous rotary suction filter which includes the step of washing the filter cake from the filter element by a projected stream opposite in direction to the direction of rotation of said filter elements whereby the discharged cake will pass over filter areas still under suction.

2. A continuous rotary filter of the class described comprising a filter shaft, a plurality of separate filter units mounted on said shaft, each of said filter units having a plurality of irregular shaped filter segments, said filter segments having a plurality of filter surfaces, said filter surfaces having sloping sides forming a sawtooth profile and V-shaped channels transverse to the filter surface.

3. A rotary filter of the class described comprising a crenellated filter surface, a sluicing mechanism and deflector means cooperating with said surface to deflect sluiced cake and wash water from said filter, means to collect said sluiced water and discharged cake, means to repulp said discharged cake and wash water, and means to introduce said repulped mixture into the sluicing mechanism.

4. The method of filtering solids from liquids which comprises forming a filter cake on the filter elements while drawing the liquid through said filter elements, directing a discharge stream of filtered liquid against the filter cake in a direction opposite to the movement of said lter cake and in a manner to disintegrate said filter cake A and Wash it over the previously formed filter cake to increase the thickness of said filter cake.

5. A filter-of the class described comprising a filter shaft, a plurality of filter units spaced from each other in parallel relation and secured to said shaft, a unitary covering of filter material extending over said filter units and forming channels therebetween to provide an extensive unitary filtering area over and between said filter units.

6. A rotary filter of the class described comprising a filter surface, deflector means cooperating with said surface to defiect sluiced cake and wash water from said filter, means to collect said sluiced Water and discharged cake, means to: repulp said discharged cake in wash water, means to introduce said repulped mixture into a sluicing mechanism, and means to discharge said repulped mixture over said cake for sluicing purposes.

'7. The method of filtering solids from liquids to form a thickened filter cake which comprises forming a lter cake on a filter surface, sluicing said cake off said filter medium with a previously Isluiced and repulped filter cake, repulpiing the sluiced filter cake and subsequently separating the sluiced filter cake into a further sluicing product and a thickened end product.

HORACE BRYAN WI-IITMORE. 

